Tag Archives: History

Beirut people watching.

Posted on 23/06/2018 by

Humanity is the best spectacle, in this city where gated communities rub shoulders with bombed-out, charred shells. Pneumatically-enhanced bimbos and babes driving Dodge Camaros on one end of the spectrum and ragged Syrian children tapping on their rolled-up windows for … Continue reading →

Posted in Lebanon, Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

“Arabian Sands”, by Wilfred Thesiger, Penguin Books.

Posted on 19/08/2016 by

Italo Calvino once wrote that a ‘classic’ is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say. If this is the approved meter of judgement for the category, then I’ve no doubts that Arabian Sands belongs to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books review, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The stubborn resilience of life

Posted on 10/03/2015 by

Ruins. Peeled paint. Rust. Dust. Walls tilted to impossible angles, defying gravity. Roofs caving in. Empty plots strewn with rubbish. Stray animals. These are some of the features that welcome the visitor in Tbilisi’s old town and, there’s no way … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Georgia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Back to the roots: the return of agriculture in the Alps

Posted on 19/10/2014 by

“We decided to grow potatoes because potatoes were the staple that fuelled the Alps’ demographic boom”, explains Federico, a hand gesture encircling the tiny field, no longer than half a football field, stretching on front of us. With hindsight, finding … Continue reading →

Posted in All things food, Europe, Italy, Overlooked locations, Val d'Aosta | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments